After school, Ling Xian and his classmates went to collect their parent-teacher conference notices.
Soon after, they began their journey home...
The notice listed only the items required for the four-day exchange program, along with a requirement to wear school uniforms.
To Ling Xian, this made little difference—Ziyang's uniforms probably weren't much different anyway...
His only concern now was maintaining a low profile. He absolutely couldn't get involved in any ostentatious behavior...
The five individuals, including the math teacher, were all people he needed to be wary of.
Whatever happened during those four days, it was best to avoid causing too much trouble...
The notice also listed important matters requiring parental review and signature.
That evening, Ling Xian returned home and tossed the letter directly in front of Father Ling.
"Seriously? Not even a greeting?"
Ling Xian: "Read it yourself."
Father Ling set down the letter, adjusted his monocle, and examined it carefully. He then took out his fountain pen and casually signed with an elegant flourish: "Done."
Ling Xian: "..."
"You didn't even read the whole thing..." Ling Xian telepathically conveyed his astonishment.
Mr. Ling usually took these notices more seriously than watching a football match.
"Come on! Be serious. What's there to read? It's just a four-day exchange program! School trips are all about safety guidelines anyway. I highly doubt anything will happen to you. Hell, who would dare touch you?" Mr. Ling said, glancing up from his newspaper.
Ling Xian remained silent.
Mr. Ling adjusted his monocle. "Oh, right... I heard the Phantom Network's assassination attempt failed. One of the assassins died horribly—his balls exploded! Was that you?"
Ling Xian rolled his eyes and mentally muttered, "Uh... about that marble incident, I didn't mean to."
Mr. Ling shook his head. "You practically castrated him! That's brutal! At least leave him a complete corpse! Now the forensic team has to painstakingly piece together his remains for burial!"
"..."
"Alright, alright, stop pressuring our little Lingning. You don't want to corner him, do you? Let's eat first." Mother Ling entered with a tray of dishes and set them on the table.
As Ling Xian sat down, his gaze fell on the bowl. "Lobster soup?"
He remembered not particularly liking lobster. His mother only made this dish when entertaining important guests.
Before he could speak, she instantly understood the meaning behind his look. "Xiao Xun actually came today, but he had to rush overseas for an urgent meeting. So you need to eat extra today! I'll bring you another bowl of your favorite soup."
I knew he'd come after all!
Ling Xian sighed. It's Ling Xun, as expected...
Ling Xun was his elder brother. As a child, he had fallen into a deep coma that lasted for two months. When he awoke, his brain's neural circuits had completely reorganized themselves, transforming him into a prodigy.
Doctors couldn't explain the phenomenon, but some theoretical fringe groups speculated that it must be due to neurological changes triggered by brain health and cellular activity.
At the age of eight, Ling Xun was admitted to the Sect Affairs Bureau of the Shanghai Tianxu Magic Academy, becoming the youngest consultant in the academy's history.
As he grew older, he began developing classified devices and equipment for the government. For example, he created a massive energy sphere capable of meeting the daily energy consumption needs of Earth's megastructures.
He maintained a vast underground laboratory where he preserved lost historical texts, meticulously documenting the origins and evolution of cultivation practices.
Many of his other inventions, if revealed to the public, could rewrite the course of world history.
His influence within the China Federal Bureau of Investigation was so great that the authorities deliberately concealed his true identity.
The sealing devices on either side of Ling Xian's head, though developed by himself, incorporated the "Celestial God Particle"—a novel substance dependent on Ling Xian that had yet to be discovered by the international scientific community. This particle effectively suppressed Ling Xian's powers.
Although Ling Xun hadn't identified the source of the substance, he suspected it was related to his younger brother's reincarnation. Even at just 0.0001% of its full strength, this energy was a billion times more powerful than the largest known black hole.
Ling Xian thought his older brother was a cunning idiot. Ling Xun could effortlessly invent new devices and then use Ling Xian as his guinea pig, treating him like a living lab rat!
However, the Ling parents held a different view. They insisted their sons had a healthy and harmonious relationship.
Otherwise, why would he go to such lengths for you?
They're right! Ling Xian thought to himself. If I were to die, Ling Xun would simply find another subject for his twisted experiments!
Mr. Ling frowned at his wife. "Why didn't Xun stay tonight?"
"I couldn't persuade him either. He said he had an important overseas meeting with the Russian government," Ling's mother sighed.
She added, "Perhaps Lingning could share a bed with him next time he's free..."
Father Ling spat out his drink. "Absolutely not! What if his snoring shakes the heavens and earth? How would I explain that to my colleagues?"
Ling Mother rested her chin in her hand. "Hmm... his snoring really could shake the heavens and earth. I should have thought of that..."
Ling Xian: "..."
***
After deliberately chatting about trivial matters for a while, Father Ling finally returned to the main topic. "Did he say anything when he came?"
Ling Ma suddenly realized something and slapped her forehead. "Ah! I completely forgot! Don't these sealing devices have expiration dates? Lingning, do you remember how much time is left?"
Ling Xian silently calculated in his mind. He had approximately four and a half days remaining, at most five. At that point, the dimensional spiritual energy generated by his brainwaves would overwhelm the device, completely exposing his aura.
Even Ling himself didn't know what would happen then.
"Only four and a half days left, right? Ling Xun sent a message this morning saying the improved version will arrive later this week," Ling Ma said, her voice tinged with worry.
The last time the device failed, Earth had endured a full two weeks of solar eclipses!
"It should be fine. I think Ling Yi can control the energy..."
"That's exactly what I'm worried about..."
Father Ling reassured her, "If you're really concerned, have Kong Ji accompany him to the exchange event."
Kong Ji was the second sword Father Ling had specially acquired for him after breaking his first sword. This blade had mysteriously appeared in their backyard.
The sword had been Ling Xian's companion for fifteen years, and the two had long since forged a contract.
However, this sword's material was unique—
It was forged from the wood of a jujube tree struck by lightning...
...